CENTER FOR HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTIONS

• Sponsoring Institution: Other Cooperating Institutions
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1022088
• Project Start Date: Jan 22, 2020
• Project End Date: Feb 21, 2023
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762

Performing Department
Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

Non Technical Summary
Worldwide, human-wildlife conflicts cause more economic and ecological damage than any other wildlife-related problem. Mitigation of these conflicts requires science-based research, technical expertise, and global collaboration well suited with the mission and resources of a land-grant University. The Center for Human-Wildlife Interaction (CHWI) at Mississippi State University (MSU) will leverage and expand MSU research, education, and service efforts in the area of resolving human-wildlife conflicts. Over the last 15 years, MSU has established state and national recognition for the development of expertise in the human-wildlife conflicts arena. Additionally, numerous technical and analytical capacities relevant to resolving human-wildlife conflicts exist within MSU. The CHWIwill coordinate, facilitate, and expand existing research, education, and extension activities across academic and research units involved in human-wildlife conflict related work by providing technical expertise specifically focused on the development and implementation of solutions for resolving human-wildlife conflicts. The center will also benefit the state and nation by providing science-based strategies aimed at reducing the number and magnitude of conflicts between humans and wildlife, with the goal of improving human-wildlife coexistence. In essence, the center will position MSU and Mississippi at the forefront of resolving human-wildlife conflicts development in Mississippi, the nation, and globally.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

50%

Developmental

25%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
123	0899	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

human-wildlife conflict

human wildlife interaction

wildlife management

human dimension

economic

Goals / Objectives
The CRHWC will be a unique multidisciplinary center dedicated to excellence in research, outreach, and education, and willcarry out its mission by: 1. Conducting extramurally-funded research on human-wildlife conflicts and their resolution. 2.Publishing relevant topic-oriented monographs concerning human-wildlife conflicts. 3. From the science-based monographs andrelated research, publishing Practical Landowner/Land Manager Guides, Extension publications, and other informationalmaterial (DVDs, electronic publications, press releases, brochures) that address specific human-wildlife conflict issues. 4.Maintaining a comprehensive website devoted to the citizenry and wildlife management professionals about human-wildlifeconflict resolutions. 5. Maintaining a rigorous and relevant graduate research program that addresses key human-wildlife conflictissues and their resolution. 6. Maintaining a rigorous and relevant undergraduate program that addresses key needs ofemployers in the field of human-wildlife conflicts. 7. Developing and maintaining educational workshops and symposia to keepprofessionals and interested laity informed of solutions for human-wildlife conflicts. 8. Creating and implementing specializedconservation education programs for public and private stakeholders directed at increasing the knowledge and skill base tomitigate human-wildlife conflicts and promote coexistence with wildlife.

Project Methods
1. Continue the cooperative research program with the National Wildlife Research Center. This will include continuation ofexisting cooperative agreements and development of new agreements projects are developed. 2. Continue and expand theextramural funding of research on human-wildlife conflicts, working with existing stakeholders and new stakeholders. 3.Continue with the Monograph and Technical Guide Series of human-wildlife conflict solutions and "negotiate" their linkage withthe Publications Program of The Wildlife Society (TWS). 4. Conduct, every 5-years, a national analysis of the economic andhuman health/welfare impacts of human-wildlife conflicts. 5. Develop and implement MOAs with partner organizations (e.g.,USDA APHIS WS, The Wildlife Society, Federal Aviation Administration, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural ResourceConservation Service) to provide outreach to the public on human-wildlife conflict issues. 6. Provide workshops, onlinecontinuing education, and symposia to state and federal agencies and NGOs on issues relevant to human-wildlife conflictresolution. 7. Implement a national undergraduate internship program with partner land grant universities and USDA APHIS WSon human-wildlife conflict resolution. 8. Maintain the premier web site for the resolution of human-wildlife conflicts that is usefuland informative to the professional and the laity and promotes the importance of our mission to the national economy andhuman health/welfare. 9. Begin development of international program for research, outreach, and education on human-wildlifeconflicts. This will involve initial collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature as well as continuation ofour existing international efforts. 10. Create first ever comprehensive K-12 conservation education curriculum emphasizinghuman-wildlife conflicts and urban wildlife management. 11. Recruit and train competent individuals diverse in race, gender, andculture so that the national workforce in human-wildlife conflicts reflects societal composition. We will work with our diversityofficer within the College of Forest Resources at MSU as well as those available in federal or other agencies.

Progress 01/22/20 to 02/21/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The center targets a broad scope of stakeholders, reaching students and educators in academia and other venues; research,outreach, and extension professionals; managers and policy makers at state and federal agencies and NGOs; and owners andusers of public and private lands. Changes/Problems:The Covid-19 pandemic caused the National Training Academy's primary clientele, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, to declare a moratorium on travel for its personnel. This is in addition to localized restrictions regarding group sizes and distancing put into place to address the pandemic. The inability to safely gather and for our clientele to travel to attend impeded the National Training Academy from addressing some of the center's goals. National Training Academy personnel addressed this by modifying existing curricula to be presented in a virtual format wherever possible and expanding its offered curricula to provide additional opportunities for virtual learning during the pandemic. Covid-related changes were also implemented with regards to research travel wherever possible. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The National Training Academy conducted 8 in-person educational events that trained 69 USDA Wildlife Services employees from 27 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Additionally, 944 USDA Wildlife Services employees enrolled in 6 online and 3,859 website users conducted 38,906 page views and 2,595 Vimeo views. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The National Training Academy conducted 8 in-person educational events; 944 USDA Wildlife Services employees enrolled in 6 online courses and 3,859 website users conducted 38,906 page views and 2,595 Vimeo views of NTA material specific to professional development and training of USDA WS employees. There were 9,015 impressions on the Wild Pig Info Facebook page, 10,300 new views and 10 new subscribers on youtube.com/MSSTATEwfaTV; and 39,042 site users with 78,448 unique page views on wildpiginfo.mssate.edu What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The CHWI will engage in extramurally funded research and extension programs for resolving human-wildlife conflicts and promoting constructive interactions between humans and wildlife. CHWI has partners with agencies external to MSU (as well as internal interdepartment/interdivision cooperation) and continues to seek new partnerships and strengthen ties and expand work with current collaborators. Center faculty and staff will continue to publish and present their work in scientific journals andprofessional conferences, as well as produce extension publications and other informational material aimed toward educating the public regarding human-wildlife interactions and conflict resolution. The CHWI has graduate student research assistants and undergraduate technicians working on research and extensions projects for various aspects of human-wildlife conflicts, and isactively working to increase diversity by recruiting minority students. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture offers a B.S. degree with a concentration in human- wildlife conflicts, and the Center strives to provide real world experience for these students. The CHWI conducts in-service training for extension agents and educational workshops and symposia to provide development opportunities for professionals and interested laity. Through a partnership with USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, the National Training Academy will continue to provide competency in leadership and communication necessary to navigate society's complex values about wildlife and interact with communities and stakeholders on multiple scales.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Conducting extramurally-funded research on human-wildlife conflicts and their resolution. Research aimed to provide user guidelines to airport personnel for monitoring wildlife with sUAS. The research will also be used to inform FAA Advisor Circulars as necessary regarding sUAS use. The intended outcomes of this sampling approach are to 1) support efficient evaluations of airport-wildlife hazards, 2) guide aircraft strike mitigation efforts, and 3) gather standardized wildlife monitoring data to better inform future strike mitigation directives. In addition, supporting the development of selection criteria for appropriate sUAS for wildlife monitoring in aerial systems, collection of aerial imagery of wildlife, and development of an image repository shareable document were primary efforts addressing the Center's goals. Research to characterize aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging, historic, and contemporary use of ponds and natural water bodies; long term changes in migration, regional abundance, and distribution of avian species. Developing and maintaining educational workshops and symposia to keep professionals and interested laity informed of solutions for human-wildlife conflicts.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P., J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, B.K. Strickland, and B.S. Dorr. 2020. Fine scale characteristics of catfish aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging use in the Mississippi Delta. PLoS One 15(2): e0229402
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P., J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, B.K. Strickland, and B.S. Dorr. 2020. Historic and contemporary use of catfish aquaculture farms by piscivorous avian species in the Mississippi Delta. The Condor: Ornithological Applications 122:1-13. DOI: 10.1093/condor/duaa036
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P., J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, B.K. Strickland, and B.S. Dorr. 2020. Piscivorous bird use of aquaculture and naturalwater bodies in Mississippi. Journal of Wildlife Management 84(4):1560-1569 DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21948
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2023 Citation: Burr, P., B.S. Dorr, J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, and B.K. Strickland. In Review. Long term changes in aquaculture influence migration, regional abundance, and distribution of an avian species. Oecologia
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Zhou, M., J.A. Elmore, K.O. Evans, S. Samiappan, M.B. Pfeiffer, B.F. Blackwell, and R.B. Iglay. 2021. Improving wildlife monitoring using small, unmanned aircraft systems and deep learning networks. Sensors 21:5697. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21175697 (UAStwoYr1)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Elmore, J.A., M.F. Curran, K.O. Evans, S. Samiappan, M. Zhou, M.B. Pfeiffer, B.F. Blackwell, and R.B. Iglay. 2021. Evidence that small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) can be used to monitor terrestrial animals: a systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence 10:15. https://doi.rog/10.1186/s13750-021-00228-w (UAS Phase 1 Year 1)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2023 Citation: Elmore, J.A., L.R. Jones, E.A., Schultz, K.O. Evans, S. Samiappan, M. Zhou, M.B. Pfeiffer, B.F. Blackwell, and R.B. Iglay. 2023. Evidence that small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) can be used to monitor terrestrial animals: a systematicmap. Environmental Evidence 12:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-022-00294-8 (UAS Phase 1 Year 2)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Iglay, R. B., A.L. Bowe, M.B. Pfeiffer, B.F. Blackwell, T.L. DeVault, and M.J. Begier. In preparation. Why should we, and can we, develop a bird strike risk model for military aircraft? (Military Strikerisk Two & MilitaryStrike_AddOn2021))
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Burr, P., J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, B.K. Strickland, and B.S. Dorr. In Preparation. Foraging habitat use of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and great egrets (Ardea alba) wintering in the Mississippi Delta: aquaculture ponds versus naturally occurring water bodies.

Progress 01/22/20 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The center targets a broad scope of stakeholders, reaching students and educators in academia and other venues; research, outreach, and extension professionals; managers and policy makers at state and federal agencies and NGOs; and owners and users of public and private lands.Target audiences reached during this phase included USDA Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center and Federal Aviation Administration collaborators, small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) researchers, end users, and wildlife biologists. Main efforts were gathering information for developing selection criteria of sUAS platforms and sensors for a sister project, developing and sharing guidelines for an image repository, and gathering initial aerial imagery for the repository and computer vision aspects of the project. Publication development for a systematic map and expanding the project's collaborator network were the other main efforts during this period. All activities included email and video conference call communications.Additional target audiences reached for this portion of the project included catfish aquaculture producers and managers. We conducted research to determine how management could be used to discourage fish-eating birds from causing further damage to this important industry. Our research culminated in several peer-reviewed scientific publications and that information was distilled in a Mississippi State University Extension Service publication to be disseminated to stakeholders in the industry. Changes/Problems:As previously stated, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused the National Training Academy's primary clientele, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, to declare a moratorium on travel for its personnel. This is in addition to localized restrictions regarding group sizes and distancing put into place to address the pandemic.The inability to safely gather and for our clientele to travel to attend has impeded the National Training Academy from addressing some of the center's goals. National Training Academy personnel are addressing this by modifying existing curricula to be presented in a virtual format wherever possible and expanding its offered curricula to provide additional opportunities for virtual learning during the pandemic. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has supported the completed of Part 107 pilot's license for the Post-Doctorate.The National Training Academy activity (in person training) has been greatly reduced due to the current pandemic and moratorium on travel for USDA APHIS employees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Within the first 3 months of this effort, multiple documents have been developed and shared with project collaborators regarding development of an aerial image repository and contributions to a sister project's selection criteria of sUAS for airport wildlife monitoring. Primary communities receiving this information were the project funder (USDA WS NWRC) and the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, other sUAS users and researchers have been contacted and conference calls completed or scheduled to discuss the project's goals and how these other groups can contribute. Communities have spanned government and non-government agencies, private industry and academia. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Future efforts include, but are not limited to, developing field experiments to assess sampling bias of diurnal and nocturnal mammals and nocturnal birds, developing a user interface for the image repository after receiving input from project and non-project collaborators, and beginning to test various CNNs among collected imagery. The National Training Academy personnel are working to modify in-person training sessions to accomodate virtual learning in all areas where such modification is possible. We hope to resume training offerings soon via virtual delivery until travel restrictions are lifted and in-person training is again allowed.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Conducting extramurally-funded research on human-wildlife conflicts and their resolution. Research aimed to provide user guidelines to airport personnel for monitoring wildlife with sUAS. The research will also be used to inform FAA Advisor Circulars as necessary regarding sUAS use. The intended outcomes of this sampling approach are to 1) support efficient evaluations of airport-wildlife hazards, 2) guide aircraft strike mitigation efforts, and 3) gather standardized wildlife monitoring data to better inform future strike mitigation directives. In addition, supporting the development of selection criteria for appropriate sUAS for wildlife monitoring in aerial systems, collection of aerial imagery of wildlife, and development of an image repository shareable document were primary efforts addressing the Center's goals.Developing and maintaining educational workshops and symposia to keep professionals and interested laity informed of solutions for human-wildlife conflicts. Center supported the development of sUAS symposium at the 2020 Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: Samiappan, S., M. Zhou, and R. Moorhead. 2020. Identifying wildlife from aerial imagery using CNNs. Oral presentation. 2020 Annual Conferences of The Wildlife Society.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P. C., Avery, J. L., Street, G. M., Strickland, B. K., Dorr, B. S. (2020). Historic and contemporary use of catfish aquaculture by piscivorous birds in the Mississippi Delta. The Condor: Ornithological Applications, 122, 13.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P. C., Avery, J. L., Street, G. M., Strickland, B. K., Dorr, B. S. (2020). Piscivorous bird use of aquaculture and natural water bodies in Mississippi. Journal of Wildlife Management, 84(8), 1560-1569.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Burr, P., B.S. Dorr, J.L. Avery, G.M. Street, and B.K. Strickland. In Review. Long term changes in aquaculture influence migration, regional abundance, and distribution of an avian species. Oecologia
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Burr, P., Street, G. M., Avery, J. L., Strickland, B. K., Dorr, B. (2020). Fish-eating Birds on Catfish Ponds in the Mississippi Delta. No (P3482 ed., pp. 8 pages.). Mississippi State University Extension Service.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: Paul C. Burr, Jimmy L. Avery, Garrett M. Street, Bronson K. Strickland, and Brian S. Dorr. Historic and Contemporary Use of Catfish Aquaculture Ponds by Double-crested Cormorants in Northwest Mississippi. The Wildlife Society 2020 Annual Conference. Virtual conference, Sept. 28  Oct. 2, 2020.